Shock-absorbing vehicle-spring.



B. H. JOHNSON.

SHOCK ABSORBING VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED PEBJO, 1910.

Patented May 30, 1911.

' awe/whoa Z71}?! fizmam ELMER H. JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOCK-ABSORBING .VEHICLE-SPRING.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented May 30, 1911.

Application filed February 10, 1910. Serial No. 543,137.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER H. J ornvso v, citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county of New York and '5 State of New York, have lnvented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock- Absorbing Vehicle-Springs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in vehicle springs such as are used for all classes of vehicles, and more particularly adapted for automobiles, the object of the invention being to provide in connection with a set of spring leaves, an auxiliary spring which is adapted to resist excessive or sudden down thrust of the vehicle body the upward rebound and thus reduces the and acts to resist movement of the body, chances of breakage This object is secured by providing a set of main springs consisting of spring leaves having a certain initial curvature, and in connection therewith to provide a spring of a peculiar form, to be hereafter described, and having a slightly different curvature from the main spring, so that when the central portions of the main and auxiliary springs are drawn together by the middle clamp or bolt, the auxiliary spring, because of its peculiar form, assists the resiliency of the main spring and renders the act-ion of the latter easier under a light load, but resists to a certain extent the upward rebound of the main spring.

For a full understanding of the invent-ion and the merits thereof, and to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved spring applied to a vehicle; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged View of one end of my improved spring; and, Fig. 3 is a perspective view thereof.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to these figures, the main spring is represented as a whole by the numeral 2. The main spring consists of a plurality of semi-elliptical or bow springs, said how having its ends extending upwardly, the uppermost leaf 3 of the main spring being provided with eyes at its ends in the main spring.

for engagement with a body 5, in the manper usual in springs of this class. The aux 1l1a ry spring is designated 6 and is attached at its middle to the main spring by the bolt 7 which passes through all the leaves of the mam spring. This auxiliary spring has a less initial curvature than the leaves of the main spring and at its middle lies flatagainst the upper side of the uppermost leaf 3 of the main spring. Both arms of the auxiliary spring are formed into a series of small, upwardly bowed or curved portions 8. The auxiliary spring is of the same length as the leaf 9 which is next but one to the leaf 3 of the main spring, and the ends of the auxiliary spring are engaged by clips 10 which are attached by bolts to eyes formed on the ends of the lea-f 9. It will be seen that in its normal position the auxiliary spring touches the upper face of the main spring at the points a, b, 0 and d on each side of the middle.

The object of the peculiar form of the auxiliary spring is to so shape the spring that on a rebound of the main spring, the auxiliary spring will ofier resistance first at the points a-a, then at the points b-b, oc and 0Z-0l, successively, until the spring assumes its normal position. The auxiliary spring will thus act like a succession of springs, each shorter than the other and coming into play successively, one after the other, and resisting the upward movement of the main sprin When the leaves are all drawn together by means of the clamping bolt 7 there is a certain amount of tension exerted upon the main spring by the auxiliary spring or leaf which makes the support somewhat resilient under light loads, but acts as a shock absorber to pre vent sudden downward movement to the body of the vehicle.

My invention is simple, can be easily applied to the springs now upon the market, and is entirely efiective in practice.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with a main spring formed of a plurality of superposed leaves of successively increasing length, said springs having their ends extending upwardly and said main spring having means for connecting it at the ends and middle thereof to a vehicle, of an auxiliary spring comprising a leaf attached at its middle to the upper face of the uppermost leaf of the main spring, but less in length than said main spring, said leaf on each side of its middle being formed with a plurality of successive upward bowed portions.

2. The combination with a main spring comprising. a plurality of superposed leaves, said leaves being upwardly curved at the ends and upwardly increasing in length, the uppermost leaf at its end being provided with eyes whereby it may be attached to the body of a' vehicle, of an auxiliary spring mounted upon the uppermost leaf and less in length than the uppermost leaf, said auxiliary spring being formed on each side of its middle with a plurality of successive upwardly bowed portions, a bolt passing through the middle of the auxiliary spring and through the middles of the leaves forming the main spring, and clips connecting the ends of the auxiliary spring to the ends of one leaf of the main spring.

3 A vehicle spring comprising a main sprmg havmg upwardly extending extremities, an aux1l1ary spring,and means connectmg the main spring to the auxiliary spring at the mlddle portion thereof, the auxiliary spring being formed with a plurality of success ve flexures adapted to come into success ve action to resist the movement of the main spring as the main spring is deflected.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER H. JOHNSON. 

